Every scheme here halves the penalty if you pay within 14 days of service. The fear of losing that discount pushes many people to pay penalties they could have challenged. Here is what each authority actually does.
Paying usually ends the case
Bath says payment is treated as acceptance and closes the case with no refund. Aberdeen says payment closes the case and any appeal already sent. TT2 says paying a toll notice closes the case. So decide before you pay.
Who keeps or re-offers the discount
| Authority | If you challenge within the 14 days and lose |
|---|---|
| Bath | Discount kept (only lost if the challenge is after day 14) |
| Bradford | Enforcement held; challenge inside the discount period so you can still pay at the discount |
| Sheffield | Discount re-applied if the representation arrived in the discount period; not after a tribunal appeal |
| Scottish LEZs | Notice of rejection must offer 50% off if paid within 14 days of it (SSI 2021/177 reg 9(4)(f)) |
| TfL | PCN frozen while TfL considers it; check the amount on the notice of rejection |
A simple rule
- If you have a legal ground with evidence (paid, sold, stolen, exempt, wrong vehicle), challenge.
- If your only point is that you forgot, and the authority says it does not accept that, paying at the discount is usually cheaper.
- If you are unsure, use the free checker: it shows which grounds fit your answers.
Can I challenge this charge? Free check
Free. Your answers stay on this device. Nothing is sent to us.
Get your letter written for you
Built from your checker answers, with the right grounds and regulation numbers for your scheme. You see the start of the letter before you pay, then edit it and download it as Word or PDF.
Representation letter
Your formal challenge to the authority, citing each ground that fits with its regulation number, the evidence you enclose and a request to cancel.
Start my letterFull pack
The representation, a tribunal appeal statement, replies at the charge certificate and debt registration stages, witness statement and out-of-time wording, and a bailiff fee check.
Start the full packOne penalty per purchase, usable for 6 months. Full refund within 14 days if you haven't downloaded a letter. Templates you send yourself, not legal advice. See sample letters
Questions people ask
Can I pay and then appeal?
Generally no. Several authorities close the case on payment.
Sources
Last checked: 13 November 2026. Every fact on this page was checked against these official pages. How we check